Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 8-10 flour tortillas
• 2 cups enchilada sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add chicken and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
4. Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce onto the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
5. To assemble the enchiladas, spoon a few tablespoons of the chicken mixture onto a flour tortilla, top with a sprinkle of cheese, and roll up. Place into the baking dish, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
6. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
7. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Top with fresh cilantro and serve. Enjoy!
A Chicken Enchilada is a Mexican dish made from flour or corn tortillas that are filled with shredded chicken, cheese and sometimes vegetables, then rolled and baked in a spicy chili pepper sauce. The dish originated in Mexico and dates back to the early 20th century.
History: The dish is said to have been created by elmecanical Francisco Vasquez, who was living in Mexico City in the early 1900s. The original dish is made with corn tortillas filled with a mixture of chili pepper sauce, cheese, and shredded chicken.
Tips:
1. Use high-quality ingredients like fresh, organic chicken, and a variety of flavorful chili pepper sauces.
2. Make sure the filling is cooked before adding it to the tortilla.
3. Make sure to roll the tortillas tightly to ensure the filling stays in.
4. Once rolled, sprinkle cheese and bake for about 15-20 minutes at 350F.
Techniques:
1. The classic enchilada is made with corn tortillas that have been lightly fried in oil to optimize flavor and texture.
2. If you are using flour tortillas, fill them with your desired ingredients and use a bamboo steamer to ensure that the tortillas stay soft rather than baking them.
3. To give the dish a richer flavor, experiment with adding herbs and spices like cumin, oregano, garlic, or chili powder to the enchilada sauce.
4. To add extra texture and flavor, top your enchiladas with olives, onions, tomatoes, or cilantro.